Finnish dinner date: Finland will fly 16 singles over for a free dinner date trip; applications close November 10
PTC Web Desk: Finland, which regularly ranks as the happiest country in the world, now wants to play matchmaker. The country’s tourism board, Visit Finland, has launched a campaign called “Finnish Dinner Date” that will fly 16 single people from around the world to Finland, with every major expense paid.
The trip runs from February 9 to February 19, 2027. Along the way, participants will eat their way through Finnish cuisine, from wild fish and berries to foraged mushrooms, in menus designed by some of the country’s top chefs, according to a Forbes report. The highlight is a set of group dinners in Helsinki and Tampere, where the international guests will sit down with single locals. The format is a relaxed blind date, with everyone sharing one table and one of Finland’s official tasting menus.
Why Finland is doing this
Heli Jimenez, Senior Director of International Marketing at Business Finland, explained that food sits at the centre of Finnish life. In her telling, it reflects how people live close to nature, follow the seasons and come together as a community. She said the campaign is a way to invite travellers into that experience, and added that visitors might end up finding love with each other, with Finnish food or with Finland itself.
The campaign also has a second goal. Visit Finland believes Finnish cuisine is still one of Europe’s most overlooked food cultures, overshadowed by the global popularity of Italian, Chinese and even other Nordic cooking. Jimenez pointed to sauna food traditions and foraging as stories that visitors will not find anywhere else.
The 'single basket' idea behind it
The concept borrows from a real Finnish dating trend called sinkkukori, which translates to “single basket”. Several supermarket chains in the country have introduced pink shopping baskets. A single shopper who picks one up is quietly signalling that they are open to a chat, and possibly a date.
Who can apply and how
Applicants must be single and at least 18 years old.
They can live anywhere in the world except Finland.
Each person must apply individually.
To enter, record a short video in English answering one question: “What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?” Post it on a public Instagram, TikTok or YouTube account, use the hashtag #FinnishDinnerDate and tag Visit Finland.
Key dates
Applications close on November 10, 2026 (11:59, Finnish time)
Winners to be announced on December 1, 2026, on Visit Finland’s Instagram and TikTok
Trip dates are February 9 to 19, 2027
Visit Finland will pay for flights, accommodation, meals and activities for all 16 selected participants.
- PTC NEWS
